I have been asked to take photos at a bonfire tonight. I will be fine for the indoor fancy dress but outside in the dark and fireworks as well I really don't know where to begin.
I have a minolta dimage S414 camera.
What setting shall I use, or should I just put it on auto?
I want to do as good a job as I can as th eevnet is for charity so all information will be much appreciated.
2007-10-26 21:41:09 · 6 answers · asked by mollygirl20002000 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
The automatic settings should cope with people around the bonfire, but avoid including the fire in the shot unless you only want silhouettes.
For fireworks you need a long exposure to capture the full effect. Switch the camera to multi-recording mode and choose manual exposure; set the the aperture to f8.0 and shutter speed to 1 second.
To avoid camera shake, you need to use a tripod, monopod, or place the camera on something like a beanbag. Anything that will provide a firm support and let you point the camera upwards for the rockets.
Don't be tempted to hand-hold it, you will be disappointed by the results.
Try to find a position where there are no lights between you and where the action will take place. Press the shutter as soon as you hear the bang and hopefully the camera will capture those ooh ah moments.
Check the first few images and adjust the shutter speed if necessary. If it's really dark you can slow down to 4, or even 15 seconds.
Good luck, I hope that the clouds blow away, or the rockets will be a big disappointment.
2007-10-27 02:28:51 · answer #1 · answered by Steve F 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to get some good shots of the fire and fireworks you can turn on the flash. The reason is having the flash on will give you a faster shutter speed, which will give you clean, sharp shots. You might think that the flash light will ruin the colours of the fireworks and bonfire - but this is not the case. The reason is that light does not reflect from light - so the colours will not be affected.
You can also try some long exposure shots - a good way to get colourful light trails. The best way to do this is to turn off the flash and keep the camera very steady (if you have a tripod use that - otherwise you can sit down on the ground and support the camera on your knee - keeping it as still as possible). This way you can get some good shots of the fireworks - because it is dark the exposure will be long - maybe half a second up to 3 seconds (or even longer). This will give the cool light trails. It is a neat effect. Taking photos in this way you can also get cool silhouette shots of people in front of the fire - or in front of a fountain fireworks (as someone suggested). But you will need to keep the camera very still and remember to turn the flash off!
Finally, if you just want to capture people (with or without fireworks in the background) then use the flash. Whichever way you take the photo the trick is to keep the camera as still as possible.
2007-10-27 01:11:20 · answer #2 · answered by question asker 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If your camera has a mode which permits use of the flash, either before or at the end of a 'bulb' or other long exposure, use that to illuminate the people watching the event. You can, however, get good shots on a long exposure, without flash, of people silhouetted against the light of the fire. You need to switch off automatic focus (if you can) as that will just hunt as the fireworks explode and you will not get a shot. Pre-focus on where the fireworks are going to go off. Be prepared for a 90% failure rate! Have a torch with you!
2007-10-26 22:47:39 · answer #3 · answered by rdenig_male 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're best bet is to take some test shots outside to determine how much light there will be - using the various settings on your camera.
you will need to use the flash when taking pictures of people and objects - but if you plan to take pics of the fireworks etc you will most likely get better results without the flash.
The camera will automatically adjust the aperture and focus - but to be sure take 2 of every photo you take - then you have a better chance of getting a good one of everything you shoot.
P.S I find using anti-shake setting is always beneficial.
Good luck
2007-10-26 21:48:34 · answer #4 · answered by carly s 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get a tripod, either set to auto, if you want to take the fire as it is, which is more or less clear, use the flash or just close it, it's up to you (closed better but you'd need a tripod and subjects would be blurred by movements due to slow shutter). Just bring a tripod or put it on an even ground. Fireworks, you'd definately need a tripod and slow shutter, around 5-30secs would be good.
Take it from a photographer.
2007-10-26 21:47:11 · answer #5 · answered by jeseeme 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
maybe..ummnn is there a night mode in your camera? maybe u can use it...
2007-10-26 21:47:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋